“How is it that hardly any major religion has looked at science and concluded, “This is better than we thought! The Universe is much bigger than our prophets said—grander, more subtle, more elegant. God must be even greater than we dreamed”? Instead they say, “No, no, no! My god is a little god, and I want him to stay that way.” — Carl Sagan

One of the people I follow on Facebook posted this quote a few days ago and although he and I approach the issue of faith from different perspectives, I think we both find great resonance with Sagan’s point.

All too often, the Christian community seems to create a conflicted relationship with science, as if the two live in opposition to each other, but are they? Certainly, the Christian world-view impacts the way we understand the insight science yields, but shouldn’t our beliefs be strengthened by those same insights?

On a recent trip to the Museum of Science, I was profoundly struck by the awesome power and creativity of God. The astronomy section reminded me of the vastness of God and of creation. The biology displays proclaimed the tremendous diversity of God’s creativity. Even the geology section pointed to God’s ability to make rocks declare his majesty. Everywhere I looked there were testimonies to the quote, “God must be even greater than we dreamed.”

J. B. Phillips asked the same question Sagan asked from a decidedly Christian perspective in his classic book, Your God is Too Small. The Christian mystics throughout the centuries have also borne witness to a God who is far bigger that we ever imagined. Our God is the One who is able to do, “immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine.” (Ephesians 3:20)

Today, open your eyes to the greatness of God. Everywhere you look there are opportunities to see. The plants, grasses and trees that make up your yard declare the greatness of God. The butterflies, honeybees and birds declare the greatness of God. Dogs, cats and livestock declare the greatness of God, as does the great diversity of humanity. Everywhere we look, from the foundations of the earth to the vastness of the heavens, the glory, wonder, awe and majesty of God are there to be seen.

Don’t settle for a small God. Open your eyes and see the amazing wonder he reveals.